What is an inherent human trait that has paved the way for the progression of our civilisation, from the early days of spartan existence to an age where each quarter of the city and home is adorned with man-made inventions, in varying styles and for usages that span across the utilitarian and the pleasurable?

The desire to build, innovate, initiate, design, concoct and inspire creations and ideas that differ from previous realities, has driven human civilisations since inception. We are, after all, the rational species—one that finds delight in reaching a sagacious end, or at the very least, in striving for it. It is for the same reason that activities that spur the mind are also the ones that gratify the heart. This is especially true for children, who are charged with infectious energy and zest for life and seek scenarios that can prod their minds. Against this context, one can understand why youngsters often discard shiny and cogently designed toys for a ruckus in the mud, or the reason they dismantle and crack open regular objects (in order to pry a peek at the mechanics at play within). It is this inherent need, to build, break, understand more, create anew, and alter, that the LEGO bricks satisfy, and hence their consistent dominance over the toy market for the past century.

More recently, the LEGO bricks, owing to their versatile denomination, have managed to escape the pigeonhole of toy design, built for kids, and has managed to establish itself as an entity that pricks the interest of creatives across all ages. The LEGO bricks have been redesigned and repackaged in tandem with a series of different themes, while also being reinterpreted by popular designers, artists and architects, in visages that allude to their style and body of work. From Ai Weiwei’s recreation of one the most famous paintings by French Impressionist Claude Monet with the colourful bricks to Bjarke Ingels' 23 metres tall LEGO House and Berliner Arndt Schlaudraff’s intricately designed Lego models of Modernist and Brutalist buildings, the presence of the Danish brand is ubiquitous across generations and disciplines. LEGO is available in varying themes inspired by popular culture characters and scenarios such as Batman, Spider-Man, Angry Birds, Winnie The Pooh, Jurassic World, and more. The Copenhagen-based brand recently unveiled a new LEGO set, namely the LEGO® Art Modern Art 31210 Building Kit.

The modern art LEGO set comes with 805 individual pieces. “Assemble your bold and dimensional artwork using a collection of differently shaped elements, and then take it apart and rebuild it into a new design. While you build, enjoy an immersive and rewarding experience, before hanging your artwork on the wall! LEGO® Art sets offer adult builders a chance to create their own piece of premium wall art while they enjoy an immersive and rewarding building experience,” reads an excerpt from the press release by the Denmark-based brand, delineating its role as a plaything, a piece of art and a decorative homeware accessory. The kit is a simple means to get creative, for both children and adults. In providing a hanger that enables the finished piece to be displayed in one’s indoor space, the LEGO set provides the opportunity for all to dip their fingers in the practice and creation of abstract art, and to put their imagination to test.

The pieces, coloured in red, green, pink, blue, yellow, black and white, come in squares, rectangles, circles, and triangles. The modular framework of the Modern Art Set enables more passionate creators to combine various sets together and create a larger and bolder piece of artwork. One LEGO® Art set measures approximately 12.5 inches (32 centimetres) high and 7.5 inches (20 centimetres) wide. “There are no wrong ways to create: just experiment and have fun with the limitless possibilities. It’s impossible to make a mistake!” the memo pertaining to the product reveals, hence seeking democratic participation in the act of creating modules of art that encourage self-expression.